India to produce 232 mn tonne foodgrains

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) India is likely to produce 232.07 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2010-11 as against 218.11 million tonnes in the previous year, on the back of record wheat output, official data showed Wednesday. Wheat output is likely to reach a record 81.47 million tonnes while rice production is estimated to be 94.01 million tonnes, according to the second advance estimate of crop production released here by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

This will be the second highest ever output of foodgrains in India. The highest ever foodgrains production was 234.47 million tonnes in 2008-09.

Production of pulses is likely to reach 16.51 million tonnes this fiscal. It includes 3.18 million tonnes tur, 1.45 million tonnes urad and 1.12 million tonnes moong.

Cotton output is estimated to be 339.27 lakh bales this year. One bale is equal to 170 kg.

“Such a high level of production will be achieved despite significant crop damage due to widespread drought in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal and the effects of cyclones, unseasonal and heavy rains and severe cold wave and frost conditions in several parts of the country,” the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

The agriculture sector is likely to show a growth of 5.4 percent in 2010-11 as against 0.4 percent in the previous fiscal, according to advance estimate of economic growth data released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) early this week.

“The second advance estimates of crop production for 2010-11 confirm the findings of CSO,” the statement said.